Introduction
India was the fourth highest producer of iron ore in the world at 120.6 Mt. (Fe-content 61 percent) in 2004. China was the highest producer of iron ore in the world at 335.6 Mt. (Fe-content 28 percent) followed by Brazil at 270.5 Mt. (Fe-content 66 percent) & Australia at 234.7 Mt (Fe-content 65 percent).

Iron ore in India
India was the third highest global exporter at 62.7 Mt. India's massive deposits of high quality iron ore provide great support to the growth of the country's iron and steel industry. In 2004, India had a reserve of about 11.8 percent share in the global reserve of iron ore. India is largely self sufficient in most of the minerals which include iron ore, dolomite, fluorspar, gypsum, limestone, manganese ore, magnesite, sillimanite, etc.

Resources of minerals in India
There are many evidence that exploitation of minerals like coal, iron-ore, copper, lead-zinc has been going on in the country from time immemorial. India is rich in the resources of minerals like iron ore, bauxite, manganese, baryte etc. It has resources of 12745 million tonnes of iron ore, 2,525 million tonnes of bauxite, 76446 million tonnes of limestone, 233 million tonnes of magnesite, 167 million tonnes of lead & zinc ore, 70 million tonnes of barytes, 176 million tonnes of manganese ore and 90 million tonnes of chromite. The reserves of iron ore, bauxite and manganese accounts for nearly 7 per cent, 16 per cent and 6 per cent respectively of the total known global resources of these minerals.

Mineral production in India
The gross value of mineral production in India in 1995 was approximate Rs.2,70,000 million up from about Rs.1,800 million in 1961, i.e. by nearly 150 times. Mineral wealth and its exploitation have substantially contributed to the growth of national economy.

Iron ore production 
Ambitious programs were launched to increase the production of minerals to meet the ever growing demand of the core industries like steel, non-ferrous metals, and fertilisers, keeping in view also the higher exports for much needed foreign exchange.

Minerals and Indian Economy
The new liberalised industrial policy leads to high and accelerated growth in mineral industry to complement and supplement the revival and rapid growth of Indian economy.

The gross value of mineral production in India in 1995 is estimated to be approximate Rs.2,70,000 million up from about Rs.1,800 million in 1961, i.e. by nearly 150 times. Mineral wealth and its exploitation have substantially contributed to the growth of national economy. The contribution of mineral production to the Gross National Product went up from 1.02% in 1960-61 to 1.54% in 1980-81. Minerals continued to play a vital role in India's overseas trade too.

With the growth of production, employment in the mineral industry has also grown phenomenally during the last few decades.

Indian Bureau of Mines
IBM - Indian Bureau of Mines says that this particular mining place is known as 'Jewel of mines' located in India which has Iron ore, magnesium dioxide, Lime stone, Dolomite, Red Oxide, Yellow oxide and Quartz.